Image reading apparatus, personalizing method, program, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image reading apparatus which can improve the operability in making various settings required for direct transmission of read image data to services on the Internet. The image reading apparatus is connected to at least one external service, which provides at least one service for image data output from the image reading apparatus via a network. Personalized service list information for personalizing the service is acquired so that the operator can use the service. A setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents of setting for the operator are personalized according to the acquired service list information. Various settings based on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of setting personalized for the operator are transmitted via the network to the external service, together with the image data.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus which isprovided with an image reading means for reading an image on an originaland outputting image data thereof, and a connecting means for connectingto an external service which provides service for the image data outputfrom the image reading means via a network, a personalizing method forthe image reading apparatus, a program for implementing thepersonalizing method, and a storage medium storing the program.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, to use e.g. a printing service on the Internet, the useraccesses a site providing the service provided as a Web server on theInternet via a Web browser of a PC (personal computer). On thisoccasion, if an original to be printed is electronic data, it ispossible to transmit the electronic data as it is to the Web server, butif an original to be printed is sheet data, it is necessary to read thesheet original using an image reading apparatus, bring electronic dataobtained by reading the original to the user's PC, and then access theWeb server through the user's PC to transmit the read electronic data.

According to the above conventional method, however, it is troublesometo carry out at least two operations: an operation of reading a sheetoriginal using the image reading apparatus, and bringing image dataobtained by reading the original to a user's PC, and an operation oftransmitting the image data from the user's PC to a Web server.

Further, if an image reading apparatus and a PC are connected to eachother on a network, the movement of the image data on the network placesa burden on the network, and also a long transmission time and a longwaiting time for the user are required.

To solve the above problems, it can be envisaged that read image data isdirectly transmitted from the image reading apparatus to a service onthe Internet, but this raises the following problem.

In the case where a plurality of users share a single image readingapparatus, they have to operate an operating screen of the image readingapparatus, but the operating screen is inferior in operability in imagedata transmission to a user's PC. Specifically, the operating screen ofthe image reading apparatus is smaller than the operating screen of aPC, and is not provided with a keyboard, a mouse, and the like unlike aPC, and hence the operating screen of the image reading apparatus isinferior in operability in making various settings relating to serviceson the Internet as compared with a PC.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image readingapparatus and a personalizing method which can improve the operabilityin making various settings required for direct transmission of readimage data to services on the Internet, a program for implementing thepersonalizing method, and a storage medium storing the program.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

To attain the above object, in a first aspect of the present invention,there is provided an image reading apparatus comprising image readingunit arranged to read an image on an original and output image datathereof connecting unit to connect to at least one external serviceproviding at least one service for the image data output from the imagereading means via a network, personalized service information acquiringunit arranged to acquire personalized service information forpersonalizing the service so that an operator can use the service,personalizing unit arranged to personalize a setting screen, a settingprocedure, and contents of setting for the operator according to theacquired personalized service information, and transmitting unitarranged to transmit various settings based on the setting screen,setting procedure, and contents of setting personalized for the operatorby the personalizing unit, together with the image data via the networkto the external service.

Preferably, the personalized service information acquiring unitcomprises reading unit arranged to read operator identificationinformation and the personalized service information corresponding tothe operator from a detachable storage medium, and identification unitarranged to identify the operator according to the operatoridentification information read from the storage medium.

Also preferably, the personalized service information acquiring unitcomprises wireless communication unit arranged to communicate with astorage medium capable of carrying out wireless communication, thestorage medium storing operator identification information and thepersonalized service information corresponding to the operator, andidentification unit arranged to identify the operator according to theoperator identification information stored in the storage medium.

Preferably, an external server holding personalized service informationassociated with respective operator identification information isconnected to the network, and the personalized service informationacquiring unit transmits operator identification information to theexternal server via the network, and acquires personalized serviceinformation corresponding to the transmitted operator identificationinformation from the external server.

Also preferably, an external server holding personalized serviceinformation associated with respective operator identificationinformation and respective apparatus identification information isconnected to the network, and the personalized service informationacquiring unit transmits operator identification information andapparatus identification information to the external server via thenetwork, and acquires personalized service information corresponding tothe transmitted operator identification information and apparatusidentification information from the external server.

More preferably, the external service comprises a plurality of externalservices existing on the Internet, and the external server exists on anintranet.

Preferably, the personalized service information includes identificationinformation on services to be used by the operator, and defaults ofvarious settings for the services to be used.

Also preferably, the personalized service information includesidentification information on services to be used by the operator, andsetting values which can be set by the operator for the services to beused.

Preferably, the personalized service information includes identificationinformation on services to be used by the operator, and setting valuesinhibited from being used for the services to be used.

Preferably, the personalized service information includes identificationinformation on services to be used by the operator, and setting valueswhich can be used by the operator for the services to be used.

Also preferably, the personalized service information includesidentification information to be used by the operator, and setting itemsinhibited from being used for the services to be used.

Preferably, the external service is inhibited from being used when thepersonalizing unit omits personalization of the service to be used.

Also preferably, the external service provides a print and book-bindingservice for the transmitted image data, and the transmitting unittransmits, as the various settings for the external service, settingsrelating to print format and book-binding format for the print andbook-binding service.

Preferably, the external services comprise a print and book-bindingservice for the transmitted image data, and the transmitting unittransmits, as the various settings for the external service, settingsrelating to an address for delivery of a printout obtained by the printand book-binding service.

More preferably, the personalized service information includesinformation indicative of an address of the operator as the address fordelivery.

Also preferably, the personalized service information includesinformation indicative of the operator as who is to be charged for theservice.

Preferably, the personalized service information includes part ofauthentication data to be used for user authentication when the operatoruses the service.

Preferably, the personalized service information acquiring unit acquiresplural pieces of personalized service information, and the personalizingmeans comprises selecting means for selecting a desired service fromamong services personalized for the operator according to the acquiredplural pieces of personalized service information.

More preferably, the image reading apparatus comprises adding unitarranged to add various settings as to the service personalized for theoperator according to the acquired personalized service information asnew personalized service information to the acquired personalizedservice information.

To attain the above object, in a second aspect of the present invention,there is provided a personalizing method for an image reading apparatuscomprising an image reading unit arranged to read an image on anoriginal and output image data thereof, and connecting unit arranged toconnect to at least one external service providing at least one servicefor the image data output from the image reading unit via a network, themethod comprising a personalized service information acquiring step ofacquiring personalized service information for personalizing the serviceso that an operator can use the service, a personalizing step ofpersonalizing a setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents ofsetting for the operator according to the acquired personalized serviceinformation, and a transmitting step of transmitting various settingsbased on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of settingpersonalized for the operator in the personalizing step, together withthe image data via the network to the external service.

To attain the above object, in a third aspect of the present invention,there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute apersonalizing method for an image reading apparatus comprising an imagereading unit arranged to read an image on an original and outputtingimage data thereof, and connecting unit arranged to connect to at leastone external service providing at least one service for the image dataoutput from the image reading unit via a network, the program comprisinga personalized service information acquiring module for acquiringpersonalized service information for personalizing the service so thatan operator can use the service, a personalizing module forpersonalizing a setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents ofsetting for the operator according to the acquired personalized serviceinformation, and a transmitting module for transmitting various settingsbased on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of settingpersonalized for the operator by the personalizing module, together withthe image data via the network to the external service.

To attain the above object, in a fourth aspect of the present invention,there is provided a storage medium storing a program according to thethird aspect of the present invention for reading by a computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an image readingsystem including an image reading apparatus according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an operating screen related to ICcards displayed on a liquid crystal display 21 with a touch panel in anoperating section 5 when an IC card 9 is attached to an IC cardreader/writer 8;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a screen showing a list ofservices for an operator with a user ID “23456 Kadowaki”;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a screen showing a list ofservices for an operator with a user ID “23457 Tanaka”;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an operating screen which isdisplayed when a personalized service key 25 is depressed on the servicelist screen for the user with the user ID “23456 Kadowaki” appearing inFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view showing in detail the contents of operator personalizedservice list information 11 stored in the IC card 9 appearing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view schematically showing the structure of operatorinformation 10 stored in the IC card 9;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a procedure for controlling the imagereading apparatus appearing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the construction of an image readingsystem including an image reading apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the construction of an image readingsystem including an image reading apparatus according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a procedure for controlling the imagereading apparatus appearing in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a view showing in detail the contents of personalized serviceinformation relating to a book-binding function of operator personalizedservice list information 11 held on a personalizing server 74 accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an image readingsystem including an image reading apparatus according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading system includes an image readingapparatus 1. In the image reading system, a plurality of users canaccess sites which provide various services 14 to 18 through the imagereading apparatus 1 via the Internet, and use or enjoy the services 14to 18.

The service 14 is a printing and book-binding service A, which receivesand prints out image data read by the image reading apparatus 1,document data produced by a PC, not shown, and so forth, performsbook-binding such as wrapping book-binding on the printout, and deliversthe printout to a designated place via a delivery service, for example.The service 15 is a printing and book-binding service B provided by adifferent company from a company which provides the service 14. Theservice 15 is basically identical in contents with the service 14, butis different in price, book-binding lineup, delivery period, and soforth from the service 14. The service 16 is a supplies ordering serviceC for ordering e.g. toner and copy sheets. The service 17 is a contentdistributing service D for holding document contents and distributingthem as requested. The service 18 is a document storage service E forreceiving and storing image data read by the image reading apparatus 1,document data created using a PC, and so forth.

The image reading apparatus 1 is comprised of an image reading section 2for reading sheet originals, an image memory 3 for storing image data,an image forming section 4 for carrying out image formation according toimage data, an operating section 5, a controller 6, a network interface(N/W-I/F) 7, an IC card reader/writer 8, and a HD (hard disk) 12 forstoring various kinds of data such as programs, document data, and imagedata.

The operating section 5 is used by an operator to issue variousoperating instructions, and enables various settings in copying, varioussettings in image reading, and various settings in using variousservices on the Internet 13. The operating section 5 includes a liquidcrystal display 21 with a touch panel (refer to FIG. 2) for inputtingthe above-mentioned operating instructions. The controller 6 controlsthe overall operation of the image reading apparatus 1 according toprograms stored in the HD 12, and carries out various kinds ofprocessing according to settings made in advance through the operatingscreen 5. The IC card reader/writer 8 is for reading and writing datastored in an IC card 9 as a detachable storage medium. The IC card 9stores operator information 10 for identifying an operator who owns theIC card 9, and service list information 11 personalized for theoperator.

The image reading apparatus 1 has an image data transmitting function ofdirectly transmitting image data to a site on the Internet 13, whichprovides a corresponding service, a printing function, and a copyingfunction.

Specifically, according to the image data transmitting function, a sheetoriginal, not shown, is read by the image reading section 2, and theresulting image data is temporarily written to the image memory 3 andtransmitted to a selected service on the Internet 13 via the networkinterface 7, a network cable 19, and the Internet 13. Thus, service forthe image data can be provided by the selected service.

According to the copying function, a sheet original is read by the imagereading section 2, and image data thus obtained is temporarily writtento the image memory 3 and transmitted to the image forming section 4, sothat the image forming section 4 forms a copy image.

According to the printing function, document data and image datadistributed from the service 17 (content distribution service D) on theInternet 13 are received via the Internet 13, the network cable 19, thenetwork interface 7, and the controller 6, and the received image datais expanded as the need arises and then written as image data to theimage memory 3. The image data is read out from the image memory 3 andtransmitted to the image forming section 4, so that an image is formedby the image forming section 4.

Referring next to FIG. 2, a description will now be given of anoperating screen displayed when the IC card 9 is attached to the IC cardreader/writer 8. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an ICcard-related operating screen which is displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 21 with a touch panel in the operating section 5 when the ICcard 9 is attached to the IC card reader/writer 8.

When the IC card 9 is attached to the IC card reader/writer 8, a message22 including a password input field and various operating keys 23, 24,and 34 are displayed on the liquid crystal display 21 with the touchpanel provided in the operating section 5 as shown in FIG. 2. In theillustrated example, the message 22 to the effect that a personal cardhas been attached, and the password input field for ascertaining whetherthe operator is an authorized owner of the IC card 9 are displayed. If acorrect password is entered into the input field, the operator who hasattached the IC card 9 is authenticated, and operations through theoperating keys 23, 24, and 34 by the operator become ready to beaccepted.

The operating key 23 is a personalized service key. When the key 23 isdepressed, the operating screen is changed to a screen showing a list ofservices personalized for each operator as shown in FIG. 3 or 4. Theoperating key 24 is a general service key. When the key 24 is depressed,the operating screen is changed to a screen, not shown, showing a listof services common to all the operators. The services common to all theoperators are called general services, which can be used by all theoperators. In the present embodiment, even in the case where the IC card9 is not attached to the IC card reader/writer 8, an operating screensimilar to the operating screen in FIG. 2 can be displayed by depressinga service entry key, not shown, provided on the operating section 5. Ifa key corresponding to the general service key 24 is depressed on thisoperating screen, a screen, not shown, showing a list of services commonto all the operators (i.e. general services) is displayed as above. Theoperating key 34 is an end key. When the key 34 is depressed, theoperating screen is closed.

The general services are uneasy to use or unnecessary for some operatorssince they are common to all the operators. Further, the maximum numberof services on the Internet 13 is not limited, and various services suchas services for PCs, services for image reading apparatuses, andservices for printers can be provided on the Internet 13, and therefore,it is troublesome for the operator to search for his/her desired servicefrom among the services each time.

Referring next to FIGS. 3 and 4, a description will be given of a screenshowing a service list screen for each operator, which is displayed whenthe personalized key 23 is depressed. FIG. 3 is a view showing anexample of a service list screen for an operator with a user ID “23456Kadowaki”, and FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a service listscreen for an operator with a user ID “23457 Tanaka”.

When the personalized service key 23 is depressed on the screenappearing in FIG. 2 in a state in which the IC card 9 owned by theoperator with the user ID “23456 Kadowaki” has been attached to the ICcard reader/writer 8, as shown in FIG. 3, a service list screenpersonalized for the operator with the user ID “23456 Kadowaki” isdisplayed on the liquid crystal display 21 with the touch panel. On thisservice list screen, personalized service keys 25 to 30 assigned toindividually specified six services (hereinafter referred to as“personalized services”) are displayed.

The personalized service key 25 is assigned to the printing andbook-binding service A14. When the key 25 is depressed, the imagereading apparatus 1 is connected to the printing and book-bindingservice A 14 (i.e. a site which provides this service) so that theoperator can use a wrapping book-binding service. In the wrappingbook-binding service, image data read from a sheet original by the imagereading section 2 is printed out, and A4-size wrapping book-binding isperformed on the printout, which is then delivered to an addressdesignated by the operator with the user ID “23456 Kadowaki”. Ingeneral, post-processing such as stapling can be performed using astapler provided in an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) installed at anoffice, but some kinds of book-binding such as wrapping book-bindingrequire a binder for exclusive use which carries out e.g. pasting, acutter which cuts edges of a sheet bundle after wrapping, and so forth,and hence it is difficult to carry out some kinds of book-binding suchas wrapping book-binding at an office. Therefore, to carry out wrappingbook-binding or the like, the operator uses the personalized serviceassigned to the personalized service key 25.

The personalized service key 26 is assigned to the printing andbook-binding service A 14. By depressing the key 26, the operator canuse a service in which image data read from a sheet original by theimage reading section 2 is printed out, and A4-size saddle stitching isperformed on the printout, which is then delivered to a member of amanager group. In recent years, some MFPs have a saddle-stitchingfunction, but in many cases, the number of pages which can besaddle-stitched is limited to about 16 pages. For this reason, to carryout saddle stitching on a document with about 32 pages, for example, theoperator uses the personalized service assigned to the personalizedservice key 26.

The personalized service key 27 is assigned to the printing andbook-binding service B 15. By depressing the key 27, the operator canuse a service in which image data read from a sheet original by theimage reading section 2 is printed out as an A1-size poster, and theprintout is delivered to a designated shop. This personalized service isused e.g. in the case where there is no A1-size printing machine at anoffice, or in the case where special treatment such as laminating isdesired after printing.

The personalized services assigned to the respective personalizedservice keys 28 and 29 are unrelated to an image reading function. Upondepression of the personalized service key 28 or 29, the image readingapparatus 1 is connected to the supplies ordering service C16 forordering toner and copy sheets.

The personalized service assigned to the personalized service key 30 isrelated to the printing function. Upon depression of the personalizedservice key 30, the image reading apparatus 1 is connected to thecontent distributing service D17 for ordering a pull print of printertrade news of the day.

When the personalized service key 23 is depressed on the operatingscreen appearing in FIG. 2 in a state in which the IC card 9 of theoperator with the user ID “23457 Tanaka” has been attached to the ICcard reader/writer 8, a service list screen personalized for theoperator with the user ID “23457 Tanaka” is displayed on the liquidcrystal display 21 with the touch panel as shown in FIG. 4. On thisservice list screen, personalized service keys 31 to 33 assigned tothree personalized services are displayed.

For example, the personalized service key 31 is for using the printingand book-binding service B 15. By depressing the key 31, the user canuse a service in which an LTR (letter)-size staple book-binding iscarried out based on image data read from a sheet original by the imagereading section 2, and the resulting book is delivered to an addressdesignated by the operator with the user ID “23457 Tanaka”. In Japan,many MFPs generally have no LTR-size sheets ready, and hence theabove-mentioned service is used e.g. for LTR-size copying. Thus, even inthe case where the operator with the user ID “23456 Kadowaki” and theoperator with the user ID “23457 Tanaka” use the same printing andbook-binding service B, the details of the service used by therespective operators may be different.

The personalized service key 32 is for using a poster printing service.Upon depression of the key 33, the image reading apparatus 1 isconnected to the content distributing service D17 so that a pull printof PC trade news of the week can be distributed to the operator.

As described above, each user can select a service to be used accordingto his/her business content, business flow, and preference, so that alist of personalized services with preset settings, which are frequentlyused in the service, is displayed on a service list screen. Thisimproves the operability in using each service on the Internet 13through the image reading apparatus 1.

Referring next to FIG. 5, a description will be given of an operatingscreen which is displayed when any of the above personalized servicekeys is depressed. FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an operatingscreen which is displayed when the personalized service key 25 isdepressed on the service list screen for the operator with the user ID“23456 Kadowaki” appearing in FIG. 3.

For example, when the personalized service key 25 is depressed on theservice list screen in FIG. 3 for the operator with the user ID “23456Kadowaki”, an operating screen is displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 21 with the touch panel as shown in FIG. 5. A plurality ofdisplay areas 41 to 44 are displayed on the operating screen in FIG. 5.The name of a personalized service, a user ID, and how to change settingitems of the service are displayed in the display area 41. The names ofrespective setting items are displayed in the display area 42, and setvalues for the respective setting items are displayed in the displayarea 43. The setting items and the defaults of the set values are readout from the service list information 11 stored in the IC card 9, andare displayed on the operating screen in FIG. 5. In the example shown inFIG. 5, the printing and book-binding service A 14 is set as the defaultof “connection service”, an A4-size is set as the default of “finishingsize”, 1 is set as the default of “the number of copies”, double-sidedprinting is set as the default of “one-sided/double-sided”, color is setas the default of “color/black-and-white”, and wrapping book-binding isset as the default of “book-binding”. Further, the operator himself isset as the default of “address for delivery”, and the department towhich the operator himself belongs is set as the default of who is to becharged for the service, i.e. “billing address”, and the operatorhimself is set as the default of “orderer's names”.

In the display region 44, keys for changing values of the respectivesetting items are displayed. When a setting item to be changed isselected using an up/down key, not shown, the key corresponding to theselected setting item is highlighted, and then, when a right/left key,not shown, is depressed, another setting value for the setting item isdisplayed in the display area 43. In the present embodiment, at a timepoint the operating screen in FIG. 5 is displayed, the image readingapparatus 1 is connected to the printing and book-binding service A 14to inquire about other set values for the respective setting items.Namely, other candidates for set values are obtained.

When an ordering key 46 is depressed after set values for one or more ofthe respective setting items are changed as the need arises, a sheetoriginal is read, and image data thereof and the set values in thedesignated service are transmitted to a site which provides thedesignated service on the Internet 13. As a result, the contents of theservice to be provided for the operator are set.

In this way, a service which is frequently used by the operator and setvalues for items to be set in using the service are held as defaults ofa personalized service. Therefore, when there is no necessity ofchanging the defaults, ordering is enabled only by depressing theordering key 46 without changing the set values on the operating screenin FIG. 5.

When a setting saving key 45 is depressed after set values for one ormore of the respective setting items are changed as the need arises, asaving screen, not shown, is displayed, so that a group of values set onthe screen in FIG. 5 is added as a new personalized service to servicelist information, or replaces an existing personalized service accordingto an instruction from the user.

It should be noted that although in the present embodiment, theoperating screen in FIG. 5 is displayed in the form of a list for thesake of simplicity, the present invention is not limited to this, butthe operating screen in FIG. 5 may be replaced by a Web-screen describedin e.g. HTML provided by a Web server which provides the printing andbook-binding service A 14, and settings can be made using the Webscreen. Even in this case, values read out from the service listinformation 11 stored in the IC card 9 are used as defaults forrespective setting items.

According to the present embodiment, by using the unique personalizedoperating screen, it is possible to personalize setting items, which canbe set, themselves, and hence the image reading apparatus 1 does nothave to be provided with a Web browser. On the other hand, in the casewhere a Web screen is used for operation, it is difficult to personalizesetting items themselves, but it is possible to provide the sameoperability as in the case where a PC is used for operation.

Further, the Web screen should not necessarily be displayed in HTML, butitems which can be set in a service and a list of values which can beset for the respective items may be collectively acquired as XML datafrom an Internet service, and according to the acquired data, theoperating screen in FIG. 5 may be controlled through the operation ofthe image reading apparatus 1. In this case, there is no necessity ofinquiring to a Web server about candidates for values which can be set,each time settings are changed.

The XML data may be configured to be held in the IC card 9 so that evenif a site which provides the printing and book-binding service A 14 isnot accessed at a time point the operating screen in FIG. 5 isdisplayed, settings as to the printing and book-binding service A 14 canbe set on the operating screen in FIG. 5 using the XML data held in theIC card 9.

Referring next to FIG. 6, a description will be given of the details ofthe operator personalized service list information 11 stored in the ICcard 9. FIG. 6 is a view showing in detail the operator personalizedservice list information 11 stored in the IC card 9 appearing in FIG. 1.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the number of registered services “6”indicative of the number of registered personalized services is storedin the operator personalized service list information 11 stored in theIC card 9 of the operator with the user ID “23456 Kadowaki”, and piecesof personalized service information 52, 53, 54, . . . are linked to theroot of the operator personalized service list information 11. Thepersonalized service information 52 includes item IDs 55 of settingitems for a personalized service assigned to the personalized servicekey 25, names 56 assigned to the setting items, and defaults 57 of thesetting items. Similarly, the personalized service information also 53,54, . . . include item IDs of setting items for personalized servicesassigned to corresponding personalized service keys, names assigned tothe setting items, and defaults of the setting items.

Further, in the present embodiment, each of the personalized serviceinformation 52, 53, 54, . . . includes a UID/password item, in which auser ID and a password for use in connection to the correspondingservice are written. For example, in the personalized serviceinformation 52, “23456 Kadowaki” and “xxxx” are written as a user ID anda password, respectively, for use in connection to a service A. On theother hand, in the personalized service information 54, “23456789” and“yyyy” are written as a user ID and a password, respectively, for use inconnection to a service B. Here, user IDs and passwords are differentaccording to services since they are determined on dependence on theservices.

As stated above, in the present embodiment, authentication informationfor use in connection to each service is included in personalizedservice information, and is used in connection to each service.Therefore, once the user who has attached an IC card to the imagereading apparatus 1 is authenticated based on the input password, theuser does not have to enter a user ID and a password when connecting toeach service, and this alleviates the burden on the user when connectingto each service.

Alternatively, to further improve the security, it may be configuredsuch that corresponding user ID and password are entered when connectingto each service. Also, it may be configured such that a user ID and apassword for each service are entered when connecting to each service,and further, a user ID and a password included in personalized serviceinformation are transmitted. According to this configuration, it ispossible to prevent the user who does not own an IC card from accessingeach service.

The personalized service information 53 and 54 correspond to thepersonalized service keys 26 and 27.

It should be noted that in each personalized service, the same item IDis assigned to the same setting item so that settings can be shared bydifferent services. For example, the personalized service 52 isconfigured to connect to the service A while the personalized service 54is configured to connect to the service B, i.e. the personalizedservices 52 and 54 are configured to connect to different services, butthe same item ID “3” is used for a setting item “number of copies”. Onthe other hand, in the personalized service 54 for providing posterprinting, there are no setting items such as “book-binding” differentlyfrom the personalized service 52.

Further, in each personalized service information, the name of apersonalized service is held on the first line, and in the presentembodiment, the name is used as a key name in FIG. 3 and as apersonalized service name in FIG. 5. When a new personalized service isregistered on a predetermined screen, not shown, the operator himselfgives the name to it. Alternatively, the image reading apparatus 1 mayautomatically give the name of each personalized service according toset values of typical setting items for each personalized service inFIG. 6. In the former case, an arbitrary name can be given, and in thelatter case, it is unnecessary to input a name.

Referring next to FIG. 7, a description will be given of the operatorinformation 10 stored in the IC card 9. FIG. 7 is a view schematicallyshowing the structure of the operator information 10 stored in the ICcard 9.

As shown in FIG. 7, the operator information 10 includes a card passwordfor ascertaining whether the operator is the authorized owner of the ICcard 9 or not. The card password is used in password verification inFIG. 2. The operator information 10 also includes a user ID foridentifying the IC card 9. Further, the operator information 10 includesthe location of an office of the owner of the IC card 9 as informationindicative of an address for delivery, the code of an organization towhich the owner of the IC card 9 belongs as information indicative ofwho is to be charged, and the name of the owner of the IC card 9 asinformation indicative of an orderer. These pieces of information areusually required for using an Internet service, and are commoninformation which is different according to operators, but are the samefor the same operator. In the present embodiment, such commoninformation included in the operator information 10 is used as defaultsof respective items in creating a new personalized service on apredetermined screen, not shown. This reduces the amount of data to beinput in creating a new personalized service.

A description will now be given of how to control the image readingapparatus 1 with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing aprocedure for controlling the image reading apparatus 1 in FIG. 1. Theprocedure in FIG. 8 is executed by the controller 6.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the image reading apparatus 1 is started,first, the controller 6 checks in a step S101 whether the IC card 9 isattached to the IC card reader/writer 8 or not. If the IC card 9 is notattached to the IC card reader/writer 8, the controller 6 carries outother processing in a step S102, and the process returns to the stepS101.

On the other hand, if the IC card 9 is attached to the IC cardreader/writer 8, the controller 6 displays an IC card-related operatingscreen as described with reference to FIG. 2. When the user inputs apassword on the operating screen, the controller 6 collates the inputpassword with a card password held in the IC card 9. As a result of thecollation, if the operator is verified as the authorized owner of the ICcard 9, the process proceeds to a step S104 wherein the controller 6provides control to display a user personalized service list screen(shown in FIG. 3 or 4) according to operator personalized service listinformation held in the IC card 9.

The process then proceeds to a step S105 wherein the controller 6accepts a service selecting operation by the operator on the screen inFIG. 3 or 4 showing a list of personalized services. Then, in a stepS106, the controller 6 provides control to display a personalized itemsetting screen (shown in FIG. 6) for a service selected by the operator,and as the need arises, the controller 6 accepts changes to one or moresetting items, which have been made by the operator. The controller 6then determines in a step S107 whether an instruction given by theoperator is an ordering instruction or a setting saving instruction.

If the instruction given by the operator is a setting savinginstruction, the process proceeds to a step S109 wherein controller 6changes the screen to a saving screen, not shown, and adds values as anew personalized service, which have been set by the operator 5 when thesaving instruction is given, to the service list information in the ICcard 9, or replaces existing set values in the IC card 9 with themaccording to the instruction given by the operator (user). Then, theprocess returns to the step S107. On the other hand, if it is determinedin the step 107 that the instruction given by the operator is anordering instruction, the process proceeds to a step S108 wherein thecontroller 6 causes the image reading section 2 to read a sheetoriginal, and transmits image data thereof and the set values in theservice designated in the step S106 to the designated service on theInternet 13 to place an order. Then, the process returns to the stepS101.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possibleto improve the operability in making various settings required fordirect transmission of read image data to a service on the Internet.

A description will now be given of a second embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showingthe construction of an image reading system including an image readingapparatus according to the second embodiment.

In the above described first embodiment, the IC card 9 and the IC cardreader writer 8 are contact types. On the other hand, in the presentembodiment, a non-contact wireless IC card 62 and a wireless IC cardreader writer 61 are used. The other blocks of the image readingapparatus 1 are identical in construction and function with the firstembodiment, and therefore identical elements and parts are denoted byidentical numerals.

The contact type used in the first embodiment has the advantage that thecost is lower as compared with the wireless type, and there is noproblem of interference which may occur in the case of the wirelesstype. The wireless type, however, is excellent in operability since itenables reading and writing from and to the IC card 62 only by bringingthe IC card 62 close to the IC card reader/writer 61. Also, the wirelesstype has the advantage that the IC card 62 is unlikely to be brokensince it is the non-contact type, and there is no problem of forgettingto detach the IC card 62 from the image reading apparatus 1.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, any wireless type canbe adopted insofar as it is the non-contact type and can exchange theoperator information 10 and the service list information 11. Forexample, Bluetooth or IrDA (infrared communication) can be used.

A description will now be given of a third embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a block diagramshowing the construction of an image reading system including an imagereading apparatus according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 is aflow chart showing a procedure for controlling the image readingapparatus in FIG. 10. The procedure shown in FIG. 11 is executed by thecontroller 6. It should be noted that in the present embodiment,elements and parts identical in construction and function with those ofthe first embodiment are denoted by identical numerals, and descriptionthereof is omitted.

In the above described first embodiment, operator personalized servicelist information is acquired from the IC card 9, whereas in the presentembodiment, service list information 75 for respective operators andapparatuses is acquired from a personalizing server 74 on an intranet73. In the case where operator personalized service list information isacquired from the IC card 9 as in the first embodiment, no personalizingserver is required. On the other hand, the present embodiment in whichservice list information for respective operators and apparatuses isacquired from the personalizing server 74 has the following advantages:the size of service list information is not limited by the storagecapacity of the IC card, the service list information for respectiveoperators and apparatuses can be collectively managed in thepersonalizing server 74, service list information optimized forrespective apparatuses can be distributed, and each service listinformation can be easily created/edited on the personalizing server 74.

There are other image reading apparatuses 71 and other image formingapparatuses 72 on the intranet 73, and as is the case with the imagereading apparatus 1, it is possible to personalize services to be usedby the image reading apparatuses 71 and the image forming apparatus 72using the personalizing server 74.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the image reading apparatus 1 is started,first, the controller 6 checks in a step S201 whether the IC card 9 isattached to the IC card reader/writer 8 or not. If the IC card 9 is notattached to the IC card reader/writer 8, the controller 6 carries outother processing in a step S202, and the process returns to the stepS201.

On the other hand, if the IC card 9 is attached to the IC cardreader/writer 8, the process proceeds to a step S203 wherein thecontroller 8 displays an IC card-related operating screen as describedwith reference to FIG. 2. When the user inputs a password on theoperating screen, the controller 8 collates the input password with acard password held in the IC card 9. As a result of the collation, ifthe operator is verified as the authorized owner of the IC card 9, theprocess proceeds to a step S204 wherein the controller 6 encrypts the IDof the image reading apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as “theapparatus ID”), the a user ID in the IC card 9 and the password input bythe operator and transmits them to the personalizing server 74. Thepersonalizing server 74 ascertains whether or not the operator is anauthorized user based on the user ID and the input password. If theoperator is the authorized user, the personalizing server 74 transmitsservice list information corresponding to the received apparatus IDamong the operator personalized service list information 75 to the imagereading apparatus 1.

Then, in a step S205, the controller 6 receives the service listinformation from the personalizing server 74, and displays a list ofpersonalized services based on the received service list information asin the step S104 of the first embodiment. As described above, in thepresent embodiment, it is configured such that an apparatus ID istransmitted to the personalizing server 74, and service list informationcorresponding to the apparatus ID is received. This is because it ismeaningless that an apparatus having only an image reading functionreceives and displays services associated with image formation, and itis convenient to display only services which can be used by theapparatus.

Then, in a step S206, the controller 6 accepts a service selectingoperation by the operator on the screen in FIG. 3 or 4 showing a list ofpersonalized services. Then, in a step S207, the controller 6 providescontrol to display a personalized item setting screen (shown in FIG. 6)for a service selected by the operator, and as the need arises, thecontroller 6 accepts changes to one or more setting items, which havebeen made by the user. The controller 6 then determines in a step S208whether an instruction given by the operator is an ordering instructionor a setting saving instruction.

If the instruction given by the operator is a setting savinginstruction, the process proceeds to a step S210 wherein the controller6 switches the screen to a saving screen, not shown, and adds values,which have been set by the operator 5 when the saving instruction isgiven, to the service list information in the IC card 9, or replacesexisting set values in the IC card 9 with them according to theinstruction given by the user. Then, the process to returns to the stepS208. On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S208 that theinstruction given by the operator is an ordering instruction, theprocess proceeds to a step S209 wherein the controller 6 causes theimage reading section 2 to read a sheet original, and transmits imagedata thereof and the set values in the service designated in the stepS207 to the designated service on the Internet 13 to place an order.Then, the process returns to the step S201.

Although in the present embodiment, it is configured such that anapparatus ID is transmitted to the personalizing server 74, and servicelist information corresponding to the apparatus ID is received, thepresent invention is not limited to this, but it may be configured suchthat the image reading apparatus 1 receives all of service listinformation which can be used by the operator from the personalizingserver without transmitting the apparatus ID, and extracts and displaysservices which can be used by the image reading apparatus 1 on anoperating screen. This configuration has the advantage that the amountof processing to be carried out by the personalized server 74 can bereduced although processing to be carried out by the image readingapparatus 1 becomes complicated.

Further, the present embodiment has the advantage that the personalizingserver 74 can manage in details services which can be used by respectiveapparatuses since it is configured such that the personalizing server 74holds apparatuses IDs and operator personalized service listinformation, and the image reading apparatus 1 transmits an apparatus IDwhich identifies itself to the personalizing server 74, and receivesservice list information corresponding to the apparatus ID.Alternatively, in place of the apparatus ID, information on respectiveapparatus models and information on function types may be transmitted tothe personalizing server 74, and corresponding service list informationmay be received. In this case, the storage capacity of the personalizingserver 74 can be reduced since the personalizing server 74 has only tohold service list information classified according to apparatus modelssuch as “an MFP of a type B at a company A” and operators in place ofservice list information for respective apparatus IDs and operators.Further, according to the method in which function type information istransmitted instead of the apparatus ID, the storage capacity requiredfor the personalizing server 74 can be further reduced since thepersonalizing server 74 has only to hold service list informationclassified according to respective function types such as ablack-and-white scanning function, color scanning function,black-and-white printing function, color printing function, andfacsimile function, and operators, and the personalizing server 74 neednot be aware of a specific apparatus model. Thus, if service listinformation for respective function types is held, there is no need totransmit, for example, a service which handles color information to anapparatus having only a black-and-white scanning function.

In the present embodiment, a card ID held in the IC card 9 istransmitted as identification information on the operator to thepersonalizing server 74, but alternatively, the operator may inputidentification information such as a user ID using the operating section5. Also, identification information on the operator may be acquiredusing a biological authentication means such as identification throughfingerprints.

A description will now be given of a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a view showing in detailthe contents of personalized service information relating to abook-binding function of operator personalized service list information11 held in the personalizing server 74 according to the fourthembodiment.

The present embodiment is different from the above described thirdembodiment only in how to use service list information, the contents ofservice list information, and so forth, and therefore a description willonly be given of differences between the present embodiment and thethird embodiment.

While in the third embodiment, the service list information ispersonalized so that the operator can hold settings which are frequentlyused by him, in the present embodiment, it may be additionallyconfigured such that the administrator uses the personalizing server 74to collectively manage services which can be used by operators as wellas setting items and set values which can be used in the services.Therefore, in the case where the image reading apparatus 1 is shared bya plurality of users, it is possible to connect to external servicesusing the image reading apparatus 1 and impose limits on orderingservices. For this reason, the present embodiment does not supportgeneral services described previously with reference to FIG. 3.Specifically, it is configured such that the operator is identified bythe IC card 9 which has been attached to the IC card reader/writer 8,and is allowed to use only services personalized for him using thepersonalizing server 74.

Further, in the above described first to third embodiments, the operatoris permitted to arbitrarily change the set values for the respectivesetting items relating to each service, but in the present embodiment,limitations are imposed on setting items and set values relating to eachservice that can be used by each operator. Specifically, in the abovedescribed first to third embodiments, only the defaults 57 of therespective setting items relating to each service are stored, but in thepresent embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a limitation list 81 showingset values which can be used by the operator among the setting itemsrelating to each service is held in addition to the defaults 57, and ona screen for changing setting items relating to each service, whichcorresponds to the screen shown in FIG. 5, set values can be selectedwithin the range of the limitation list 81. For example, in apersonalized service in FIG. 12, as a set value for “book-binding”, oneof no book-binding, staple book-binding, and saddle stitching which areinexpensive can be selected, but wrapping book-binding which isexpensive cannot be selected. Also, a set value for a setting item“address for delivery” is fixed to the operator's address, and thissetting item itself cannot be changed. On the other hand, for example,it may be configured such that wrapping book-binding is permitted to beselected for a manager B as another operator, and an address fordelivery is allowed to be arbitrarily designated. The limitation list 81can be personalized for each operator only by the administrator, andeach operator can personalize a service within the range of thelimitation list 81.

In the present embodiment, a list of set values which can be used byeach operator is held on the personalizing server 74 as described above,but alternatively, a list of set values which are inhibited from beingused may be held on the personalizing server 74. Further, in the presentembodiment, values “fixed” are assigned to setting items which areinhibited from being used by the operator so that the setting itemscannot be used, but alternatively, setting items which are inhibitedfrom being used may be deleted from the service list information, orsetting items which can be used and/or setting items which are inhibitedfrom being used may be additionally held on the personalizing server 74.

Although in the above described embodiments, the present invention isapplied to services on the Internet, but it goes without saying that thepresent invention may be applied to services on an intranet.

It goes without saying that the object of the present invention may alsobe accomplished by supplying a system or an apparatus with a storagemedium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software whichrealizes the functions of any of the above described embodiments isstored, and causing a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system orapparatus to read out and execute the program code stored in the storagemedium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage mediumrealizes the functions of any of the above described embodiments, andhence the program code and a storage medium on which the program code isstored constitute the present invention.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include afloppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magnetic-opticaldisk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, aDVD+RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM.Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

Further, it goes without saying that the functions of any of the abovedescribed embodiments may be accomplished not only by executing theprogram code read out by a computer, but also by causing an OS(operating system) or the like which operates on the computer to performa part or all of the actual operations based on instructions of theprogram code.

Further, it goes without saying that the functions of any of the abovedescribed embodiments may be accomplished by writing the program coderead out from the storage medium into a memory provided in an expansionboard inserted into a computer or a memory provided in an expansion unitconnected to the computer and then causing a CPU or the like provided inthe expansion board or the expansion unit to perform a part or all ofthe actual operations based on instructions of the program code.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the present invention, personalizedservice information for personalizing external services is acquired sothat the user can use the external services, and a setting screen, asetting procedure, and contents of settings are personalized for theoperator according to the acquired personalized service information, andvarious settings based on the contents personalized for the operator aswell as image data are transmitted via a network. Therefore, it ispossible to improve the operability in making various settings requiredfor direct transmission of read image data to a service on the Internet.

1. An image reading apparatus arranged to connect, via a network, to atleast a first external service and a second external service, each ofwhich provides a service for processing image data generated in theimage reading apparatus, the image reading apparatus comprising: animage reading unit configured to read an image on an original documentand generate digital image data corresponding to the read image; aninput unit configured to input a first password for an operator of theimage reading apparatus; an authentication unit configured toauthenticate the operator based on the first password input by the inputunit; an acquiring unit configured to acquire, when the authenticationby the authentication unit succeeds, personalized service informationwhich is associated with a first ID of the authenticated operator, thepersonalized service information including at least first settinginformation which contains a second ID and a second password for thefirst external service, and second setting information which contains athird ID and a third password for the second external service; apersonalizing unit configured to personalize a setting screen accordingto the acquired personalized service information; and a transmittingunit configured to transmit various settings which have been set basedon the personalized setting screen, the second ID, the second password,and the generated digital image data to the first external service in acase where the first external service is selected, and to transmitvarious settings which have been set based on the personalized settingscreen, the third ID, the third password, and the generated digitalimage data to the second external service in a case where the secondexternal service is selected.
 2. An image reading apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the acquiring unit acquires the personalized serviceinformation from a detachable storage medium.
 3. An image readingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein an external server holding thepersonalized service information associated with respective operator isconnected to the network, and the acquiring unit transmits the first IDto the external server via the network, and acquires the personalizedservice information corresponding to the transmitted first ID from theexternal server.
 4. An image reading apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the plurality of external services exist on the Internet, andthe external server exists on an intranet.
 5. An image reading apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the personalized service informationincludes information indicative of an address for delivery.
 6. An imagereading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalized serviceinformation includes information indicative of a person to be chargedfor the service.
 7. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the acquiring unit acquires plural pieces of personalizedservice information, and the personalizing unit comprises selectingmeans for selecting a desired service from among services personalizedfor the authenticated operator according to the acquired plural piecesof personalized service information.
 8. A personalizing method for animage reading apparatus arranged to connect, via a network, to at leasta first external service and a second external service, each of whichprovides a service for processing image data generated in the imagereading apparatus, the personalizing method comprising: an image readingstep of reading an image on an original document and generating digitalimage data corresponding to the read image; an input step of inputting afirst password for an operator of the image reading apparatus; anauthentication step of authenticating the operator based on the firstpassword input in the input step; an acquiring step of acquiring, whenthe authentication in the authentication step succeeds, personalizedservice information which is associated with a first ID of theauthenticated operator, the personalized service information includingat least first setting information which contains a second ID and asecond password for the first external service, and second settinginformation which contains a third ID and a third password for thesecond external service; a personalizing step of personalizing a settingscreen according to the acquired personalized service information; and atransmitting step of transmitting various settings which have been setbased on the personalized setting screen, the second ID, the secondpassword, and the generated digital image data to the first externalservice in a case where the first external service is selected, and totransmit various settings which have been set based on the personalizedsetting screen, the third ID, the third password, and the generateddigital image data to the second external service in a case where thesecond external service is selected.
 9. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a computer program forcontrolling an image reading apparatus arranged to connect, via anetwork, to at least a first external service and a second externalservice, each of which provides a service for processing image datagenerated in the image reading apparatus, the computer programcomprising program codes for performing: an image reading step ofreading an image on an original document and generating digital imagedata corresponding to the read image; an input step of inputting a firstpassword for an operator of the image reading apparatus; anauthentication step of authenticating the operator based on the firstpassword input in the input step; an acquiring step of acquiring, whenthe authentication in the authentication step succeeds, personalizedservice information which is associated with a first ID of theauthenticated operator, the personalized service information includingat least first setting information which contains a second ID and asecond password for the first external service and second settinginformation which contains a third ID and a third password for thesecond external service; a personalizing step of personalizing a settingscreen according to the acquired personalized service information; and atransmitting step of transmitting various settings which have been setbased on the personalized setting screen, the second ID, the secondpassword, and the generated digital image data to to the first externalservice in a case where the first external service is selected, and totransmit various settings which have been set based on the personalizedsetting screen, the third ID, the third password, and the generateddigital image data to the second external service in a case where thesecond external service is selected.